archnewsfeb07

EU Agriculture Commissioner to bring 'Tasty Europe' to India, leads a 28 member business delegation , New Delhi, 27 February 2007

The Head of the Delegation of the European Commission in India, Ambassador Francisco da Câmara Gomes, today announced the forthcoming visit of EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Mariann Fischer Boel, to India. Mrs. Fischer Boel is scheduled to embark on a five-day visit to New Delhi and Mumbai from 6th March 2007 and would be accompanied by a 28-member delegation representing the agricultural and food-processing industries of Europe.

Commissioner Fischer Boel will meet with the Minister for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Kamal Nath, the Minister for Agriculture, Food & Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs & Public Distribution, Mr. Sharad Pawar, and the Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, Mr. Subodh Kant Sahay, as well as with leaders from the Indian business community to discuss ongoing trade and investment issues between the EU and India in the field of agricultural goods. While in Mumbai on 9-10 March, she is scheduled to call on the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Mr. Vilasrao Deshmukh. Her visit will primarily focus on finding facts and opening doors for the EU agro food business.

The accompanying business delegation comprises of CEOs, Presidents and Vice-presidents of prominent European companies active in the sectors of dairy, fruits and vegetables, meat, mixed, wines and spirits, and products based on cereals (list of companies given below).

On the occasion of this announcement, Mr. Da Câmara said, "The key objective of the Commissioner's visit is to reinforce and highlight common areas of partnership and growth in the field of agriculture and food processing technology. The five-day visit of Commissioner Fischer Boel is a clear indication of EU's growing interest in potential investment opportunities in India." He further added, "The European Union has always viewed India as a natural partner and the Commissioner's visit is in continuation of our long standing efforts towards promoting trade and investment between the two sides."

During her visit Commissioner Fischer Boel will inaugurate, along with Minister Sahay, the International Ahaar Food Fair starting in New Delhi on 8 March at which the EU will have a strong participation. Cooking demonstrations highlighting the use of European products in Indian cuisine and workshops would be part of the specific promotional activities. She will also address the Indian business community at a luncheon meeting organised by FICCI on 6 March.

This is the first visit to India by Mrs. Fischer Boel as EU Commissioner. She was the Danish Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries before she joined the European Commission in November 2004.

**************

About:

Accompanying Business delegation:

The business delegation comprises of 28 European companies from the sectors of dairy, fruits and vegetables, meat, mixed, wines and spirits, and products based on cereals. Between them, they represent 13 countries out of the total 27 EU Member States. The companies are listed below according to the business sectors:

Dairy (4): Arla Foods (Denmark), Danone and Lactalis (Both France), Valio (Finland)

Fruits and Vegetables (8): Agrana Fruit, Bonduelle, (Both France), AMC, Grupo SOS (Both Spain), Conserve Italia Sca (Italy), Delcof (Greece), Sovena (Portugal), Total Produce (Ireland)

Meat (5): Danish Crown (Denmark), VanDrie Group (Netherlands), Inalca (Italy), Kipco-Damaco (Belgium), PKM Duda SA (Poland)

Mixed (1): Maspex Wadowice Group (Poland)

Products based on cereals (3): Grandi Molini Italiani (Italy), Kerry Group (Ireland), Lantmannen Mills A/S (Denmark)

Wines and Spirits (7): Gancia (Italy), Gonzalez Byass (Spain), Hilltop (Hungary), José Maria da Fonseca (Portugal) , LVMH, Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac (BNIC) (Both France), Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) (UK)

European food - a great history of quality

Europe, like India, is known for the diversity of its agriculture and its food and drink products. These products derive from Europe's natural environment and its farming methods developed over centuries of agricultural activity. These food and drink products are a major part of the cultural identity of Europe's peoples and regions. The European Union (EU) plays a major role in safeguarding this wide range of cultures and culinary traditions.

Europe has many different regions. The conditions for agricultural production vary, allowing Europe to offer a great diversity of products. The different regions have specific production methods and culinary traditions. European and global consumers are showing an increasing interest in the qualities of these foods. The EU plays a key role in enhancing these high quality attributes.
For further details contact:

Mr. Anil Patni
Adviser, Press and Information
European Union
24629467, 9810630481
anil.patni@ec.europa.eu

Top

EU brings down lift cartel with record fine , EU Business Week, 23 February 2007

EU competition regulators imposed their biggest fine ever on Wednesday, hitting lift makers Otis, Schindler, ThyssenKrupp and Kone with a penalty of nearly a billion euros for running an illegal cartel.

http://www.eubusiness.com/Competition/lifts-cartel-eu.33

Top

EU narrowing innovation gap with US, Japan, EU Business Week, 23 February 2007

The European Union is narrowing its innovation gap with the United States and Japan, a study found on Thursday.

http://www.eubusiness.com/Rd/innovation-scoreboard.12

Top

EU nations not prepared for flu pandemic: study, EU Business Week, 23 February 2007

European nations are at least two years away from being able to effectively handle an influenza pandemic, such as an outbreak of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus, a report warns.

http://www.eubusiness.com/Health/eu-flu-pandemic.54

Top

Nations seek to cut down on EU red tape, EU Business Week, 23 February 2007

The 27 EU nations have supported a move to reduce the burden of EU paperwork for companies by 25 per cent by 2012, while stopping short of making promises on national bureaucracy.

http://www.eubusiness.com/SMEs/competitiveness-council.02

Top

London tops EU output per inhabitant, EU Business Week, 23 February 2007

Inner London tops the European league in terms of economic activity per capita.

http://www.eubusiness.com/Factsfig/eu-output.6

Top

European statistics book reveals all, EU Business Week, 23 February 2007

If you want to know where the fattest Europeans live or where to get the cheapest petrol...

http://www.eubusiness.com/Factsfig/eurostat-yearbook.38

Top

Scholarships for young Indian Researchers awarded by Italian Ministry of Research, 19 February 2007

The Italian Ministry of Research published a call for awarding scholarships to young Indian researchers who wish to spend a stage in Italian Universities.

The call is related to 11 research areas. In particular the list includes the following areas:

1. Grid Technology and Related Infrastuctures.
2. Comupter Science and Applied Mathematics.

I am writing in my position of member of the EuroIndia Co-operation Community and mainly as the Scientific Director of two important High Performance Computing and Grids Centers located at University of Calabria (Southern Italy).

These centers are:
-Center of Excellence on High Performance Computing,
-Supercomputing Center for Engineering Applications (jointly operated by University of Calabria and NEC).
We are strongly interested in interacting with potential young researchers belonging to good Indian academic/scientific Institutions with a beginning experience in the above area.
Since the expiring date for us to submit proposals to the Italian Ministry of Research is close we should receive asap CV of potential applicants.

Further contacts can be kept corresponding by email (lugran@unical.it).

We confidently hope in your support; please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

Best regards,
Lucio Grandinetti
..........
Prof. Lucio Grandinetti
Director Center of Excellence
on High Performance Computing
and of Supercomputing Center for
Engineering Applications
University of Calabria, Italy
Leader of SPACI-UNICAL Unit of European Grid Project - EGEE

Top

European Commissioner for External Relations Condemns train blast in India, New Delhi, 19 February 2007

EU Commissioner Mrs. Benita Ferrero-Waldner said:

"I am deeply shocked by the explosions in the train going from India to Pakistan killing many people. I send my sincere condolences to the families of the victims.

The EU condemns any form of terrorism. However, the composite dialogue reconciliation process between India and Pakistan should continue with all efforts."

Top

Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner proposes Euro 470 million package for India, Brussels, 16 February 2007

During her visit to India, European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero Waldner, announced that the European Commission is proposing substantial financial assistance to India over the next seven years. An amount of Euro 470 million should be available 2007-2013 to support the implementation of the Joint Action Plan, notably economic co-operation and sectoral dialogues, as well as help India achieve its Millennium Development Goals in the Health and Education sectors. This represents a substantial increase compared to funding provided in the past.
Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner said in Delhi: "India is forging ahead. The EU wants to play its part in the emergence of India as a more prosperous nation, playing its role on the international stage on the key issues of our day. We are designing our package to match India's own priorities - economic reforms and progress in health and education - to cement still further the partnership that we are building together."
The new Country Strategy Paper for India 2007-2013 (Euro 470 million in total ? a yearly average of Euro 67 million) proposes to focus EU co-operation on the following priorities: Mobilise EU funds to support the implementation of the Joint Action Plan, notably economic cooperation and sectoral dialogues - on issues ranging from tackling energy co-operation climate change and other environmental concerns to promoting dialogue on employment and social affairs - in order to help India address the most recent challenges of its economic reform process
Support India in achieving its Millennium Development Goals in the Health and Education sectors, as for example promotion of public administration reforms, decentralisation and community empowerment, deepening school enrolment, enhanced quality education and training of teachers.

For more information:
http://ec.europa.eu/comm/external_relations/india/intro/index.htm

Top

Europe moves towards a comEU brings down lift cartel with record fine , EU Business Week, 23 February 2007

The EU on Thursday moved toward a common energy policy, agreeing on cleaner fuel targets while watering down a proposal to force the break-up of the sector into production and distribution operators.

http://www.eubusiness.com/Energy/eu-energy-policy.17

Top

EU plans to free up cross-border trade, EU Business Week, 16 February 2007

The EU has launched a push to make it easier for companies to sell goods in other member states by cutting red tape.

http://www.eubusiness.com/Trade/cross-border-trade.63

Top

Euro-area experts trim 2007 inflation forecast, EU Business Week, 16 February 2007

Experts expect the annual rate of inflation in the eurozone to reach 2.0 per cent this year and 1.9 per cent in 2008.

http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/eu-inflation.35

Top

Germany's VW stance breaks rules: EU's legal adviser, EU Business Week, 16 February 2007

A German law which helps Volkswagen to resist takeover bids contravenes European rules, a top EU legal adviser declared on Tuesday.

http://www.eubusiness.com/Competition/vw-mergers.3

Top

EC calls on Swiss to change company tax regimes, EU Business Week, 16 February 2007

The Commission has called on Switzerland to scrap its "unfair tax advantages" for Swiss companies.

http://www.eubusiness.com/SMEs/swiss-tax.0

Top

EU wants to sanction firms that hire illegal immigrants, EU Business Week, 16 February 2007

The Commission will propose at the end of May draft legislation to sanction companies who hire illegal immigrants in the member states.

http://www.eubusiness.com/Employment/immigrants.04

Top

Market Access Strategy

EU Releases 2006 Report on U.S. Trade Barriers, EU Trade News, 16 February 2007

The European Commission has released its twenty-second annual report on barriers to trade and investment in the U.S., detailing the obstacles that EU exporters and investors face in the U.S. market. The German Presidency of the EU has made improving transatlantic trading conditions a priority of their Presidency.

-> Read the Press Release

Top

South Africa

The EU welcomes South Africa in the SADC EPA negotiation, EU Trade News, 16 February 2007

The EU Council of Ministers has accepted to include South Africa in the SADC EPA negotiation. This is the EU response to a proposal tabled by SADC in March 2006.

-> Read the Press Release

Top

Access to essential medicines

Commission welcomes international agreement to boost trade in new pharmaceuticals, EU Trade News, 16 February 2007

The European Commission has today welcomed the adoption by EU Member States of an international agreement which will make it easier to trade in pharmaceuticals. The Agreement will eliminate customs duties among the main pharmaceutical trading nations and territories and will improve the competitiveness of the EU pharmaceutical companies.

-> Read the Press Release

Top

WTO Dispute Settlement

EU files first written submission in US WTO case against Airbus support, EU Trade News, 16 February 2007

The EU has submitted its first written submission in the US WTO challenge to EU government support to Airbus.

-> Read the Press Release

Top

Dual use

The European Commission invites exporters to send their comments on the proposals to change the current legal framework on export control of Dual Use items. EU Trade News, 16 February 2007

The EU has submitted its first written submission in the US WTO challenge to EU government support to Airbus.

-> Read the More